Blood vessels Flashcards
Tunica intima
endothelium (simple squamous
epithelium)
subendothelial layer
Tunica media
smooth muscle cells and sheets of elastin
Tunica externa
collagen fibers
minimizes friction as blood moves through the lumen.
tunica intima
In vessels larger than 1 in diameter, a ____________ consisting of a basement membrane and loose
connective tissue, supports the endothelium.
subendothelial layer
Its activity is regulated by sympathetic
nerve fibers and a battery of chemicals
tunica media
Depending on the body’s needs at any given moment, regulation causes
either vasoconstriction or vasodilation
tunica media
The activities of the tunica media are critical in regulating circulatory
dynamics because small changes in vessel diameter greatly influence
blood flow and blood pressure
The tunica media is the _____ layer in arteries, which bear the chief
responsibility for maintaining ________
bulkiest
blood pressure and circulation
what is the other name for The tunica externa
tunica adventita
It is infiltrated with nerve fibers, lymphatic vessels, and, in larger veins, a network of elastic fibers.
tunica externa
In larger vessels, it contains a system of tiny blood vessels, that nourish the more external tissues of the blood vessel wall.
tunica externa
The luminal portion of the vessel obtains nutrients directly from blood in the lumen.
tunica externa
